The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19
HANS ANDERSEN'S STORIES.
No. II.
BUCKWHEAT.

II you should chance to cross field
where buckwheat is growing, after tenn
pest, you may observe that it looks black
and singed, as if flame of fire had passed
over it. And should you ask the reason,
countryman will tell you, "That comes
Of the lightningP'
But how is it that the lightning has
done it? will tell you what the sparrow
told me, and the sparrow heard it from
an aged willow which stood-and still
stands, for that matter-close to the field
OF buckwheat.
This willow-tree is tall and highly ven-
cradle, though it is old and crippled. It's
trunk is split right through the middle,
and grass and blackberry tendrils are
creeping out through the cleft. The tree
bends forward, and its branches hang
green hair.
In the fields around the willow grew
different kinds of grain,-rye, wheat, and
oats: beautiful oats that, when ripe,
looked like fight of little yellow canary
birds sitting on o branch. Plenty had
blessed the harvest and the fuller the
ears OF grain, the lower they bowed their
heads in pious humility.
But there was also field of buckwheat
lying just in front of the old willow. The
buckwheat did not bow it's head like the
rest of the grain, but stood erect in stiff
necked pride. II am quite as rich as the
wheat" said he, "and, moreover, am SO
much more slightly. My flowers are as
pretty as apple.blossoms. 1t is a treat to
look at me and my companions. Do you
know anything, you old willow, more
beautiful than ourselves?"
And the willow nodded his head, as
much as to say, "Indeed dop But the
buckwheat was so pulled with pride that
it only said, "The stupid tree He is SO
old that the grass is growing out of his
body"
Now, there came on dreadful storm.
leaves or bent their heads as it passed
over them; the buckwheat flower alone
stood erect in all its pride. SLOW your
heads as we do" called the flowers.
"There is no need that should do that"
answered the buckwheat. "Bow your
head as we do" said the grain. "The
angel of storms comes flying hitherward;
he has wings that reach from the clouds
above to the earth; and he will smite you
before you have time to beg for mercy"
But I do not choose to bow down"
said the buckwheat.
"Close your flowers and fold your
leaves" said the old willow. do not
look at the lightning when the cloud
breaks; even human beings dare not do
that, for in the midst of the lightning one
may look straight into Gods heaven
The sight strikes human beings blind, so
dazzling is it, what would happen to us
mere vegetables, who are so much hum
bier, if we should dare to do it?" $50
much humbleri Indeedl Now, then, il
there is a chance, [ will look right INTO
Gods heaven" and in his pride aud
haughtiness he dared to do so. The
flashes of lightning were SO awful that ii
seemed as If the whole world were in
flames. When the tempest was over, both
the flowers and the grain, greatly re-
fresbed by the rain, stood again in the
pure, quiet air; but the buckwheat had
been burned like cinder by the light.
ming; it stood in the field like dead, use
less weed.
And the old willow tree waved itE
branches to and fro in the wind, anC
large drops of water fell from its greer
leaves, as though he were shedding tears
And the sparrows asked, Why are yor
weeping, when all around seems blest'
Do you not smell the sweet perfume o.
flowers and bushes? See the sunshine
and the clouds pass away from the cleal
sky. Why do you weep, old tree?"
And the willow told them OF the buck
wheat's stubborn pride, and of the pun
ishment which followed.
], who tell this tale, heard it from tn,
sparrows. They told it to me one even
ing when I asked them for story.